Training Tip: The Sending Exercise

The Sending Exercise is a handy tool that can be used in a number of situations you encounter with your horse on a daily basis. As prey animals, horses are claustrophobic by nature, and when made to go through tight, narrow spaces, they naturally want to use the reactive side of their brains. This exercise will be beneficial in helping your horse use the thinking side of his brain whenever he’s in a situation he’s not comfortable with. It’s an especially useful exercise to teach a horse how to load into a trailer, getting him to cross over spooky objects and to follow the feel of halter pressure behind his ears. Remember, the more you move your horse’s feet forwards, backwards, left and right and reward the slightest try, the more respectful he will get and the more he will use the thinking side of his brain.